OLD PEOPLE’S HOME.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1923, Page 3

OLD PEOPLE’S HOME.

A G R EYMOCTII PROTEST. At a meeting cf the Grey Hospital Board on .Monday the following letter was received from the recently-ap-pointed .Minister of Health (lion Sir M. Pnmarc) : “The Director-General has placed lielore me your letter of August I, with

regard to the proposal to erect an Old People’s Home at Greymoiitli in the immediate vicinity of tho Grevmouth

Hospital. I have also received intimation that tho Westland Hospital Board is about to make a similar proposal to me—i.e. : to obtain my • approval to th(> erection of a Home fur the Aged and Needy in the- grounds of the Hokitika Hospital. Now it strikes me as rather absurd that my

approval should be asked for the erection of two homes for accommodating the aged and needy of the districts concerned within 21 miles of each other. If naturally appears to me that the two districts could best he served by the erection of an Old People’s Home common thereto. Though I am opposed to the erection of an Old People'.- Home in the immediate vicinity of a hospital, I am bound to admit that the objection could hardly stand so far as Westland is concerned, the ground- surrounding the Westland Hospital being ample for the accommodation of the Hospital and the proposed Old People s I lonic. I -liould like your Board thcrelnre to again weigh this matter carefully and see whether it would not be no,abb- to avoid the building m two home- for the aged and needy within so -bore a distant e el curb other. I led sure that the desire and intentions of your Board are to provide a suitable home for the aged and needy uf your di:> t riot, and in that, mailer yon have my entire svmpatliy, but that homes ol that tlesej-inlion should he creeled in such elo-e proximity does not appeal to my sense of economy any more than it doe- ot my ordinary commotiseiisr. I would, therefore, ask your Board whether it is not possible to combine with the Westland Hospital Board lor the puntose ol erecting a home at Hokitika that will he worthy of the di-triel and all concerned. I appeal to ibe pond slum' and t.'iil.du- spirit el

our Bn.ltd in t il: m ittgr. I t-h.otihi like In (liinl; that \uu are m touch wilh the Westland Hospital Board on ibis matter, and have so informed that Board."

The Chairman read a reply, which he had forwarded to the -Minister. Al.r Hannan said that he had also written to Alessis J. O'Brien and 11. E. Holland. Al'slL, asking them to interview the .Minister. Alt’ G 111 leu s reply stated that the -Minister bail repeated that he was not. in favour of two homes so close together. He proposed sending an officer 'probably Dr Valentine) to the West Coast to tr> to reaeli an agreement.

The chairman, continuing, said that the e.x-.M inister, the lion C. J. Part', had already consented to Hie site tor a home :U G ivy mom h, and the Board had merely asked for Sir Al. Pomare's approval of the plans. Air Partin moved that the chairman's action lie endorsed. It had been distinctly understood that the home was to be built al 0 reymoiilh. The site had been agreed to by Dr Wylie, and the plans had been drawn up. Board members would not sanction for one moment, the home being built at Hokitika : even if the members of the Board were willing, the people of Greymnittli would not agree He for one would say that the Board Humid not ioin with Hokitika, and he had assured an officer of the Health Department Him there was no chance of ti e Boards coming to an agreement. Mr Eanieil. in seconding the motion. said that he understood eo'.T'cspnudeiiee had already passed between the Hokitika and Ihaiigalma Board with reference to having a eontial linnic built. . Tin* chairman >aiil i-bat Hokitika were agreeable to a central home He ing Imill -provided it was at Hokitika!

Mr Groanov me not in lav.mr ol having the home built anywhere but at Grevmoulh. lie did not think lhc> should have any dealing- with Hokitika. AD Ashton endorsed the previous sneakers’ remarks. Grey was the largest district and it would be ridiculous for Grey people to be sent to Hokitika. AH- Bri'lane said there could be uo question that tbe home should be built at Greymoutli. lie thought that the .Minister was not conversant with the whole facts of the case. It was a question of official interference at Weilingtoii again. TI'O same othcial had int 'lfered heloro.

The chairman 'aid there was no doubt that the .Minister did not understand the facts. The Department- believed that the home could be run be unfortunate for the district that much cheaper at. Hokitika. It might arrangements for a central Lome bail not been reached years ago. However years ago the Grey Board had bought land and asked the public to find the money for a home. The money was now being found, and the Board was committed to build a home at Groynioitth. Of course, nothing conld he done unless the Minister’s consent was secured. Such consent had not yet been formally applied for. Until the necessary money was collected they could not annlv for consent. The position was that Air Parr told the Board they could have the land and culd go on with the erection of the home.

Air Parfitt pointed out that the Borough Council had passed a resolution flmt the 'continuation' of High Street should lie closed in order to allow the home to bo erected. ' The chairman suggested that a do finite resolution he moved, stating that

the Board was now in a position to call for tenders for the erection of home, and that the formal consent of the Minister ho asked for. .Mr Farnell humorously suggested that the home be called after the Minister, who might then consider it favourably. (Laughter). Mr Parfitt moved a resolution as suggested by the chairman. The motion was seconded by dir Ashton and carried. Tn reply to Mr Brislime, tho chairman said that no reply had been received from the architect regarding the plans.